At Cornell: After having a typical freshman year where there were constant struggles, Pierce had a solid second season at Cornell. Improvements in mental and physical consistency propelled him to a big PR of 6-8 1/2 at the Heps, which also qualified him for the IC4As. An injury to his takeoff foot forced him out of competition for almost two months, but he came back strong at the outdoor Heps to finish fifth. Further improvements in the weight room could make him the third Cornell high jumper to make the regional meet in 2009.
At Solon: Pierce scored in the high jump at the Ohio state championships and was nationally ranked as a senior.
Personal: Jay Benjamin Pierce is the son of John and Christy Pierce and has a brother, Chadd.
